Apparatus for unlocking ore bodies to extract sulphur and iron therefrom



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Patented May 27, 1941 APPARATUS Fon UNLooxrNo ons nomas T SULPHUB ANDIRON THERE- FBO . Harry Comer Wolf, Irvine,l Ky. Applicaties september14, 193s, semi No. 229.806

(cl. ass-19) 1Claim.

My invention relates to an apparatuswhich I have employed for theunlocking of ore bodies to extract sulphur or iron or other metallicvalues therefrom, in practicing the process described in my UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 2,103,131.

In the operation of unlocking ore bodies as described in my Patent No.2,103,131, I have found it necessary to pulverize the ore which is to beprocessed by my method; in practiceI find most ores requirepulverization to the point of 200 mesh.

In the processing of this pulverized ore, I have l'ound in practice thatit is necessary that the ore be processed in a retort that issufficiently and properly sealed' to permit absolute control of theatmosphere in the retort, particularly to the exclusion o! all' outsidefree air. y

When gases are introduced into the retort'in connection with my process,I have found that the apparatus must be so constructed that the desiredgas which is introduced and no other outside gas or air can be admittedto the retort.

In practice I have found I can employ a 'wide variety o! retorts andretorting apparatus adapt-` able to my process, which I equip withmeans-to seal the retort so as to control atmosphere in the retort. Ialso provide a means of agitation inside ot .the retort. This means ofagitation may be rabbles, fins, rotation, interrupted rotation, dragline, charge and dischargeconveyors, gas pressure, or any other means ofagitation in the` retort.

In the operation of my process described in my method patent abovementioned, I have found it is possible, ,so long as the aboveconditionsare complied with, to operate either as a continuous or asabatch process, and accordingly, either-'continuous or batch apparatusmay be suitable according to the local conditions where the process isemployed.

In the operation of my process, I nd that a normal discharge of thedesulphurized ore from the retort results frequently in thecontamination of the sulphur, sulphur vapors, or sulphur gases, with thenely comminuted ore, which is frequently carried by the velocity of thesulphur bodies along to the receiving chambers. I have overcome thisdifficulty by utilizing a two-way takeoff, having upwardly anddownwardly directed discharge portions, located at the discharge end ofthe retort, which permits the ore to drop downwardly from the retortthermally controlled while the vaporized sulphur passes upwardly throughthe upward discharge portion. This upward passage should be equippedwith various types of Cil ' ferred to, I have found dempers by means ofwhich the area may be increased or decreased at will. to control thevelocity of the vaporized sulphur, or vapor or gas which comes from theretort processing. I

In the operation of my process as above rethat the sulphur produced isinthe form of very iinely divided particles and in the point of recoveryas solid sulphur, it is necessary that the condensation andprecipitation occur with instantaneity. I have also found a widevarietyof condenser and precipitator systems and condenser and precipitatormethods suitable Vfor this purpose, providing they will condense orprecipitate with 'an instant reaction.

As. to separations in theoperation of my process, I have found itdesirable to concentrate and dressthe ore if the values recovered arenot uniformly contained in all of the ore being processed. Any suitableapparatus for this purpose is satisfactory, and jig tables, flotation,or any type of separations equipment is suitable.

I have found in practical operation of my method, that the desulphurizedore which drops from the retort downwardly through the two-way takeoff,is not sintered but is still in a pulverized form, and the iron or othermetallic values in this desulphurized ore may be recovered by any or thewell known methods and apparatus. If silica is present in thisdischarged ore, the iron in whatever form it may occur, may be separatedfrom the silica by magnetic separation, or by dry or wet flotation, orany of the well known separations methods; orthe mass. while still hot,may be dropped into electric or other types of furnaces where the silicaand other impurities may be slagged oif. Obviously, if othermetallicvaiues than iron are desirable, before kslagging, the desulphurized oremust be passed through any of the well known methods for recovery ofwhateverparticular mineral or metal other than iron, is desired to berecover The principal object of my invention is to provide apparatuswhich can be employed for the recovery of sulphur and iron from pyrites.

A further object is to provide in an apparatus of the class described, atwo-way takeoff at the discharge end of the retort, said takeoi havingan upwardly extending discharge for the passage of the sulphur vapor anda downwardly depending discharge for the ore.

A further object is to provide means whereby the area of either theupward or downward take- 011'. 01' `bOih 0f them, may lbe varied to suitthe conditions under which the numf. is hmmm..

as a result oi'. the

A further object is to provide means for condensing the sulphur vaporinstantly after it leaves the takeoff.

A further object is to provide means to separate the'iron from thedesulphurized ore.

vA further object is to provide means to introduce an inert gas into theinterior of the retort.

A further object is to provide means to oontrol and exclude all outsidefree air from the retort.

A further object is yto provide means to agitate the mass in the retort.

My means of accomplishing the foregoing objects may be more fullycomprehended by having reference to theaccompanying. drawing, which ishereunto annexed and is a part of this specification, in which thefigure is a diagrammatic view of .the complete apparatus.

This view is made in that form for the reasons set forth above; namely,that the precise form of the different means employed, I do not regardas important provided the various parts are equipped with means toobtain the desired results.

As shown in the drawing, I provide meansV for crushing the ore asillustrated it comprises a jaw crusher I, a gyratory crusher 2, a ballmill I. After the ore has passed through these crushers, it ispreferably passed through an air separator 4 and a. floatation cell 5into a storage bin C. This bin is preferably provided with an inwardlytapering portion 'I which terminates in a chute 30 which deliversmaterial toa hopper l through which the ore is conveyed to the retort 9.Inside of the retort 9 I mount a plurality of agitators III as the oremust be continuously agitated during the vaporizing of the sulphur. Ashereinbefore stated, no specific form of agitator is requisite providingit is `capable of constantly agitating the ore body inside of the retort9. Means for introducing an inert gas into the retort consists of a tankII, which is adapted to contain the gas, and a pump I2, as shown, it isof the rotary type. The discharge side of the pump is connected to theinterior of the retort 9 by suitable pipe connections I'2a.

At the discharge end of the retort 9 I mount my improved takeoff whichis provided withan upwardly extending portion I3 and a downwardlydepending portion I4. The portion I3 is connected to a condenser I5which may be cooled by the circulation of water through coils I6 and I1.The coils are connected to water inlet and outlet pipes 'I8 and I9. Thepipe I8V leading from a suitable source of water supply (not shown).Under some circumstances it may be found desirable to connect thecondenser I5 to a pump 20 to assist in drawing the sulphur vapor throughthe takeoff and into the condenser I5.

The upward discharge I3 of the takeoff is provided with one or moredampers or restrictors 2I, which are controllable as to position, suchcontrol permitting increase or decrease of the upward orince for thepurpose of control of the velocity of vapors or gases passing upwardfrom the retort to the condenser, land. also for the purpose ofproviding bailies against which certain .portions of the finely dividedore may impinge, thereby retarding the flow of finely divided orecarried upward by the vapor or gas stream.

The downwardly dependingportion I4, through which the ore passes to aseparator, is provided with one or more dampers orrestrictors 22, winchrestrictors are adjustable to provide a cross section of the downwardpath in proportion to the quantity of ore that is flowing, therebyaiding in the exclusion of air from the takeoff. As i1- lustrated, Ishow an electromelt arc furnace 23, as a separator', though it isobvious any suitable type may be employed.

In some cases' I find it desirable to provide a screw conveyor 24 tocarry the sulphur from the condenser I5. If desired it may be arrangedto deliver the sulphur (not shown) to a beit conveyor 25. Y

The operation of my device is as follows: The pyrites are delivered tothe crushers where it is reduced to 200 mesh before it is delivered tothe storage bin 6. From this bin, it drops by gravity .through a seal 26and chute 30 to the retort 9, in which it is heated out Aof contact withthe atmosphere and in any suitable manner (not shown) while it is beingconstantly and continuously agitated by the motion of the agitators III.When the sulphur is vaporized 1t passes through the upwardly extendingportion I3 of the twoway takeoff into the condenser I5 where it isinstantly cooled and the solid sulphur is deposited ln the bottom of thecondenser I5, from which point it is removed by the conveyor 24 anddelivered to the desired destination. The desulphurized ore drops downthrough the portion I4 of the two-way takeoff into a suitable separator23.

Having described my invention, what I regard as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

In an apparatus for unlocking'ore bodies to extract sulphur and irontherefrom, a retort normally closed to atmosphere, means for introducingore and inert gas into said retort near one end thereof, means foragitating ore in said retort, said retort having a delivery endconnected lto a take-olf, said take-off having an upwardly directedsubstantially vertical branch for conductingsulphur vapor to a condenserand a downwardly directed substantially vertical branch fordischargingdesulphurized ore, and adjustable restricting means imposed in both ofsaid branches constituting baffles arranged one above the other servingto restrict the effective area of said branches, the restricting meansin said upwardly directed branch also serving to separate any solidsfrom said vapors by Impact.

HARRY COMER WOLF.

